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A Quick And Crafty Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

November 11, 2020

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Looking for a quick and crafty kitchen cabinet makeover? In less than 30 minutes I transformed mine with a simple trick.

Works on furniture, too!

How To Transform A Room With Velcro

Even though the weather has been delightfully warm and wonderful around here lately, there's still no denying it's fall.

The leaves are changing color.

The days are shorter and the evenings are darker. It's only a matter of time before we see snow.


And I find myself craving cozy surroundings even more than usual.

Especially in the kitchen.

You may remember that I started down this path to cozy a few months ago, when I made buffalo check ring clip curtain panels for the room.

Then last week, I added a small electric fireplace.

Well, this weekend, I decided to use the last scrap of that curtain fabric to cover the glass cabinets above my desk. Nothing adds warmth or charm the way fabric does.

And while fabric projects can be intimidating for some, I promise this one is not.

It's quick and cheap. It can be customized for any season or holiday. It requires no special tools or skills. It won't damage your precious wood furniture. It's completely reversible.

And it's no sew. 

Fabulous. 

Now, if you've followed me for any length of time, you'll know that this isn't a new DIY for me. In fact, I've shared it several times over the years. Three, in fact.

The first time was way back in 2013. It was long after the job had been done. So it was really just a show and tell.

The second time I shared was when I used my cheat in the basement. I transformed a basic and boring tv console into an elegant custom piece.

And hid the kids' toys in the process.

The third time was in 2015.

I was back in the kitchen with a detailed tutorial on how to add fabric to glass cabinets. And that same fabric remained there since.

Five years. Gosh, I'm boring.

Definitely time for a change.

Of course, this is a different kind of DIY. It's a fabric swap, not a start from scratch.

I'm sharing this particular process today, because I wanted to show just how simple it is to change up the fabric whenever you choose.

You certainly don't have to wait five years.

How To Hang Fabric With Velcro To Cover Glass

My quick and crafty kitchen cabinet makeover


Let's start with the supplies:


Velcro Sticky Tape - Stick with the name brand. Trust me!! 

Fabric - Lyme in Berry Natural DL20 from Roth & Tompkins

Fabric Scissors - I've had these for years. They look odd, but I love the way I can place them flat on a surface to anchor them when I cut.


Step One: Remove Old Fabric

Removing Old Fabric From Cabinet

I started by removing the old fabric from the velcro tape.

I just pulled it off, easy peasy.

The old fabric was from Minted - it's called Posy Stripe

Step Two: Remove Old Loop Tape

Remove Old Velcro Tape

Next up, I removed just the soft loop side of the velcro tape from the lock side. You may not have to remove this, last time I swapped out the fabric the tape was still sticky.

Since this is the third time on that that same tape, it's done. I didn't replace the tape that was stuck to the wood. That was still in great shape.

Step Three: Add New Tape

Reapply Loop Velcro

Now it was time to reapply the a strip of the loop velcro to the existing lock tape.

It's important to note that you can buy just the loop side or just the lock side of the velcro tape.

Velcro Tape

I've found that the lock side hasn't budged at all on the wood since the day I placed it there, back in 2013.

No need to waste money on supplies you won't use.

Step Four: Cut Fabric

Fabric Panels To Add To Glass

This is where really good scissors come in handy. Since I didn't hem any of the sides, I wanted nice clean edges.

Using my old fabric panels as a pattern, the ones I just removed, I cut the new fabric to size.

Step Five: Remove Tape Backing

Removing Sticky Back Of Velcro Loop

Once the fabric panels were cut and ready to be hung up, I removed the backing on my velcro tape.

I did this one cabinet at a time, so there was no chance of the tape getting dusty while I worked on the other doors.

Step Six: Hang The Fabric

Hanging Fabric With Velcro

I always start on the top of the cabinet door, by sticking the fabric to the outside edges. Then I move my finger along the tape, pushing the fabric down in spots to create a pleated look.

I then go to the bottom of the door in the same way, making sure fabric is taut and that the pleats line up top and bottom.

The checked fabric was very easy to work with, since it was crystal clear when the lines weren't straight.

Pleating Fabric With Velcro

The tape is very forgiving. You can move the fabric around until you get the look you like and it won't lose its stickiness.

Step Seven: Check The Front - A Lot

Hanging Fabric On Glass Cabinets

To make sure my fabric was hanging correctly, and it was shirred in pattern I liked, I closed the cabinet door often to get a good look at it from the outside.

What looks good from the back of the cabinet might not look so great from the front. And let's be honest, that's what you'll be looking at each day.

When I was happy with my view, I trimmed any pieces that were too long. Then I moved on and repeated the process on the remaining glass doors.

And voilá!

My super cozy cottage style desk area. For fall.

Cottage Style Kitchen Desk

And winter.

Maybe spring...or summer.

I mean the last pattern lasted five years.

Clearly the velcro has sticking power.

Let's see if the fabric does.

What do you think of the new look?

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Post a Comment | 34 Comments

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  1. Oh my gosh Kim this is so super cute. Love it. You go with your crafty self.

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    1. Thanks Kris! It was time for a {quick} change!

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  2. I love that pretty checked fabric and it looks so nice inside the cabinet. You are so talented and crafty and it shows in your beautiful home Kim!

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    1. Thank you for the super kind words, Julie! I have to admit, I love the new look. ☺️

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  3. I think it's genius, Kim! You truly do need your own DIY TV show because no one does frugal DIY's as good as you do.
    Brenda

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    Replies
    1. Brenda, you are always so kind to me. You just made my day. Thank you sweet friend!

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  4. I love it. Will have to find that tape. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Betty! It’s such an easy project…and you can find that tape anywhere. I’ve even seen it at drugs stores. If you try it, let me know.

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks Penny! That extra fabric was just calling my name.

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  6. This came out so beautiful! Makes me wish that I had glass fronted cabinets.

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    1. Thanks Briana! I ended up using the idea on my tv console a few years ago, but it really works well in my kitchen.

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  7. So stinkn cute! Love the new look and bravo velcro.

    Cold weather is moving in for the weekend. I can't take the up and downs temperatures with my MS

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    1. Oh boy, I'm so sorry you're having a tough time, Cindy. I really hope that the temps stabilize quickly for you. And thank you for the kind compliment on my cabinets. ☺️

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  8. Woohoo! I love it! The fabric is perfect and your kitchen looks great!

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  9. Replies
    1. Thank you, Anita! I'm a sucker for a pretty fabric

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  10. I love this new look! Like you said, it really warms up the area. You are so clever and crafty with your ideas.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Melanie. I needed a new view and after all this time stuck at home, it was good to have a few crafts to keep me busy.

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  11. Kim, I love it. So beautiful and just the addition to bring it all together. I do love that fabric..Stay well..xxoJudy

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    1. Thank you, Judy! I have to say, that scrap of fabric really did the job right! xoxox

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  12. I'm drooling!!!! Love, love, love your desk area. The gingham speaks to me...loud and clear:) I love gingham. When I first starting reading this post, I thought to myself that I would never want to cover my glass front cabinets...I really do like seeing the dishes:) But when I saw that red & white...well, I just melted! PLEASE come live beside me!!!!





    ReplyDelete
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    1. Cheri, I would love to live by you...it sounds a lot warmer there!! And thank you my friend!

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  13. Oh how I love the look of the new gingham fabric! As always your tutorials are awesome, and inspirational. It is truly amazing what some Velcro and pretty fabric can accomplish! We have definitely passed from fall into winter here... we've had two snowstorms in one week! Enjoy your lovely fall weather :)

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    Replies
    1. Snow! Yikes! We're not quite there yet, but it's certainly time to get cozy...and yes, velcro helps! Haha! I hope you have a wonderful weekend in your winter wonderland. And Ps...I've been reading your book! Lovely...

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  14. Very cozy looking! Perfect for the upcoming holidays!

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    1. Thank you so much, Lorrie! It's a very long winter here, so the cozy color keeps me warm!

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  15. I like it! You always do a great job with the tutorials. Thank you for that.

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    1. Thank you, Carla. I guess it's all those years of teaching, it's the step by step, thing. I'm tied to it. Ha!

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  16. Love the new look! The glass cabinets look lovely. Velcro is so handy. Happy weekend.

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  17. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! Makes it look all warmer and cozy which i know was exactly the effect you were looking for!! Thanks for sharing!!
    Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Deb...and yup, just what I was looking for...Hugs!

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